ExxonMobil workers protest sacking of 860 spy police

ExxonMobil workers in Akwa Ibom State on Friday protested the sack of 860 spy police without entitlements.

The workers, who began protest at about 8:12am, blocked Mobil Housing Estate along Marina Road in Eket, Eket Local Government Area of the state.

They were observed to be chanting solidarity songs while displaying placards with inscriptions such as, “ExxonMobil sacked 860 Nigerian workers after over 22 years of slave labour” , “ExxonMobil, respect the rule of law”, “Supreme Court of Nigeria is higher than ExxonMobil.”

Other inscriptions include, “ExxonMobil, comply with Supreme Court Judgment”, “Calculated disobedience of Supreme Court judgment on its employees is an insult to the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, “ExxonMobil masters of slave labour”, among others.

Chairman, Security Workforce, ExxonMobil, Mr. Okon Johnson, said he was displeased over the attitude of the company.

He added that ExxonMobil had meted out injustice to those that have entrusted their lives and property to the company.

Johnson asked the oil conglomerate to reabsorb the 860 spy policemen and reward long serving personnel.

“The management of ExxonMobil called us today for a meeting at Eden Hotel and they addressed us that mails would be sent into our emails.

“In the meeting, the multinational company told us that the company has acknowledged us as staff and working to implement the Supreme Court judgment.

“After the meeting, surprisingly as we were going back to our offices, we noticed that ExxonMobil had withdrawn our access badge and we could not have access to the premises of the company again,” he said.

Johnson appealed to ExxonMobil to reabsorb 860 employees of the company and implement their entitlements before they would end the peaceful protest in the state.

He expressed disappointment that ExxonMobil does not want to comply with Supreme Court judgment.

He said, “Our demand is for the company to fully comply with the judgment of the apex court. The apex court is law and it should be respected and if the company is doing this that means it is disrespectful to the nation, Supreme Court and Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The Manager, Media and Communications, ExxonMobil, Mr. Oge Udeagha, said in line with the judgment by the Supreme Court of Nigeria will provide, Mobil Producing Nigeria will compensate the affected personnel.

He added that the company has asked an HR consulting services to assist them with employment opportunities with third party.

He said, “Following the recent judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mobil Producing Nigeria will provide compensation packages for the affected personnel and is offering HR consulting services to assist with employment opportunities with third parties.”

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